Fire Safety Audits

Thursday 20 December 2018

Sean Clifford

Latest figures show Cleveland Fire Brigade is one of the top services in the country when it comes to fire safety audits.

They have doubled in the last three years to just below 2,000, putting Cleveland in the top five Fire Rescue Services. When they are broken down there are 110 audits per 1000 premises – the highest in England.

Audits are undertaken in all premises where the Fire Safety Order applies. They cover such areas as means of escape in the event of a fire, staff training in emergency procedures and general fire precautions.

Firefighters look for hazards such as blocked fire exits or faulty doors, and give notice to building owners if improvements are needed.

The figures come after the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services reported that audits across the country have fallen by 42% over the last seven years.

Ian Hayton, Chief Fire Officer, Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “We are proud of our record in fire safety and we put prevention as a top priority. These figures are testament to the hard work and diligence of our staff in ensuring businesses and other premises are safe and the risk of fire is low. It is also vitally important that in the event of a fire everyone can get out safely.

“I would like to pay tribute to the cooperation of all involved as we make Cleveland one of the safest places in the country to live and work.”

Figures show there were 922 fire safety audits in 2015/16 and they have risen to 1,862 in 2017/18.